Henry C. Rowland

“ You could buy your grandfather an estate, and marry your sister to the son of an earl if you chose, and give the children the best of educations, and start them all in life.
“Money is power, no matter what fools say about the beauties of poverty. And as for love”—he turned and looked at her with deep fires in his somber eyes—“I offer you the best that I am capable of, and you must feel that at least it is sincere.”
Ailsa's breath came quickly. For a moment she seemed to hesitate. David was quick to profit by her indecision. ”

“ Don't you think that there are times in the lives of us all when we are called upon to make a personal sacrifice of our feelings for the sake of those we love—and who love us? Alone, what can you do to help your relatives? Let me tell you that even a girl with a technical business education is often hard put to it merely to support herself in these days. You can't afford to let your relatives suffer poverty, can you? Don't you consider it your duty to make this sacrifice?”
Ailsa quivered. Then she looked at David, and a little shudder ran through her supple body. ”

“ The girl's face was a little pale, and her chin was set doggedly. David plowed ahead. The dog, as if sensing some ugly emotion, kept close to Ailsa's side.
“See here,” said David, “do you realize that you are juggling with the chance of a lifetime? All sentiment aside, just stop to consider what it means for us to marry. You would be so rich as to find it impossible to spend a quarter of your income. ”

“ Ye see, I have another nephew—Archie Loveday by name. 'Twas to him I was minded to see you married, and 'twas him ye were to meet here at luncheon. Now, if ye had kept your engagement, as by rights ye should have done at any cost, all would have been well, and no doubt ye would have been a wife by now, for Archie is no procrastinator like yon sanctimonious fool, David. As ye were not here, I broached the subject to him, and he would have none of it.”
“Ah-h-h!” Ailsa let her breath out slowly. The high color mounted to her eyes. Jeremiah looked at her, then quickly out of the window. ”

“ But as they fell upon the Airedale, crouched at Ailsa's feet, his flanks quivering for a spring, this time at the throat, the man drew back. David possessed that constitutional fear of dogs peculiar to some men who are afraid of little else. ”

“ Ailsa knew that they liked and admired her, and as she paused, her foot half in her shoe, and thought of the consternation that she was presently to cause, her heart almost failed her, and she wished that she had yielded to her first impulse, and fled to the refuge of her relative's house immediately on leaving the head of the family. ”

“ A straight line drew itself between Ailsa's dark eyebrows, and she looked at the old man with an expression of mingled displeasure and bewilderment.
“You told me also,” she continued, “that his face was never without a smile, that he painted for his pleasure, and that he was very fond of, or kind to, animals. Now, Mr. David never smiles except when he wants to be polite, or has said something rather disagreeable; he does not paint at all ”

“ Wishart. We are going out together. You see, we came in for the day to do shopping, and I just ran in to ask you to clear up some things that puzzled me. Good afternoon, Mr. Wishart.”
“Wait a bit. Y'are not angry?” ”